Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of the related characters. They belong to the creative genius of Masashi Kishimoto
Author Note: Thank you kind reader for taking the time to read my story, so far, I really do appreciate it. This story contains Yaoi (eventually) if you don't like please don't read. This story is unbetaed and so please accept my humble apologizes for the grammar and spelling mistakes. Now on with the story:
Chapter Six
Puzzles, healing and time
Naruto's point of view
"Where is that Shikamaru?" I growled getting really irritated with being in the hospital.
The door to my room opened…
And Itachi Uchiha walked in…
I looked at him slightly perplexed. I mean…what is that man doing here? I remember him standing beside me as I was on the ground shot but…well I guess I am just going to have to ask.
"Your Itachi my Sasuke's brother" I said as I positioned myself into a more comfortable position in the bed.
"Yes, and you are Naruto…Sasuke's husband" Itachi said.
"Well, duh…I talked to you on the phone and well did you get all the information you needed from your investigation of me and my husband?" I questioned.
Besides the looks department…I don't think Sasuke and this Itachi fellow are that much alike. This man looks at you like you are the worst kind of shit stuck to the bottom of his shoe. I mean what have I done to deserve that like of contentious look. What an ass…
Oh, wait I think his highness is saying something to me…I should pay attention or it might be off with my head.
"…" said Itachi.
"Okay Itachi what were you saying…cause I wasn't paying attention…and everything you just said sounded like the teacher in that Charlie Brown cartoon…" I smiled.
"I was saying that it is very inconvenient that you are here right now" Itachi said.
"Yeah, it is a little inconvenient that I am in the hospital but I get out today" I said. Alright you are probably wondering if I am an idiot…well let me assure you I am not…I know exactly what that prick is meaning and I am choosing to ignore it.
"That is not what I mean. I mean with you here in the country things might get a little complicated. And it is not that I don't want to help you fulfill Sasuke's last wish but let's be honest…he decided that he didn't want to be here and he left…so him being dead is well…unfortunate" said Itachi.
Oh, my god…that asshole just didn't say it was unfortunate that my husband was dead! I am going to kick his ass…
"You fluffed up piece of shit…how dare you say that it was unfortunate that Sasuke was dead…and about him leaving this place maybe being an ocean away from you was a very good thing" I screamed at him.
"My husband was a good man, who loved his family and was always there for us. He never said he was too busy for anything. He loved each one of his children…with all his heart. He was successful at his work and you know what he loved me…So we don't need your help with this Japanese funeral thing I will figure it out by myself. And as soon as possible we will get out of your royal majesty way…And on another note you are one sorry fuck…I can so see why he left" I was crying by the time I got done with my rant. And I can't believe that I let an f-bomb go. I haven't been this mad in a long time.
At this point Itachi was staring at me…like he had never been cussed out in his entire life. He probably hasn't…that arrogant jerk wad.
"You do not understand me, Naruto" said Itachi with what could be described as shock on his stoic face.
"Really…what's not to understand" I said as sarcasm dripped like venom from a snake.
"I am not saying that I would not help you, he is…no was my brother but with the incident that involved you getting shot and Shikamaru being the target…I feel that this is very…"Itachi let what he was going to say drift off in an almost insecure way.
"So what are you saying?" I said. I have to admit I was sort of curious as to why I was shot because that bullet was meant to kill someone else…and that someone was that cute Shikamaru fellow. Whoa, did I just think…cute…must be the medication they have me on for pain. That's right…if I tell myself that I am sure that I will begin to believe it. Because he is sort of cute…alright let's be honest he is cute. Why do I have such strange internal debates with myself…?
"What I am saying…is that Shikamaru was targeted for some reason that I haven't figured out yet and well Naruto…I didn't want to say this but after I got the information about Sasuke's supposed 'car accident'…let's just say that I have some questions" said Itachi.
"About what…Sasuke's death was an accident…I mean his brakes failed and the police said that he tried to stop but he was going to fast" I am starting to get freaked out here.
"That was the thing that got me…you know, Sasuke had his brakes done the week before…right" said Itachi.
"What? Wait what are you saying? That is wasn't an accident?" I whispered.
"Listen I am just saying things here have been a bit suspicious with certain things and well…never mind at this point I just don't know" stated Itachi.
"What do you do for a living Itachi?" that was a question that had to be asked.
"Well, I guess I should explain that…have you ever heard of the Yakuza?" asked Itachi.
"No, are they a group or something?" I asked. I am almost afraid of the answer.
"The Yakuza are like the mob, Naruto" said Itachi. His tone was emotionless.
"And Shikamaru is one of my clan bosses" continued Itachi.
"You're in the MOB!" I ended that statement with a screech.
"Yes, our particular one is named the Inagawa-kai" Itachi stated with a dry tone.
"I was married into the mob…Wait that was a movie wasn't…this sucks. Nothing like this should happen in real life" I rambled.
"Yeah, well there is no time for you to figure out if this is a dream which I assure you it is not" stated Itachi.
"What do you mean no time?" I asked almost afraid to ask.
"Well, for one thing N-a-r-u-t-o, I don't know who did take a shot at Shikamaru and if I am right about the cause of Sasuke's death then you and your kids may be in danger here" said Itachi.
I just nodded because I mean really what does a person do in this instant.
"By the way, Naruto who told you that you had to bring Sasuke's remains here?" asked Itachi.
I felt that this question was pivotal, because my answer to his question could lead to a lot of other questions answered. And with that in mind, I began to get a little nervous.
"Sakura Haruno…Sasuke's lawyer" I said with butterflies in my stomach.
"No, that can't be right…Sasuke would never have that woman as his lawyer" said Itachi.
"What do you mean? I met her number of times and she was Sasuke's lawyer" I said with the ever growing apprehension.
"Did you ever meet her with Sasuke present?" said Itachi as he leaned closer to me.
At that question, I really had to think and then it hit me. I never met her in Sasuke's presence. Every time I met her…Sasuke was never there. She came to me and said she was his lawyer. I never said anything to him because really why would I?
Oh, my God…who is she?
"No, Itachi I never met her with Sasuke…Never once" I said in a panic.
"Sakura is an assassin for a rival group" said Itachi.
"She told me…she showed me papers that said…" I whispered.
"Yeah, for some reason they wanted Sasuke dead and his spouse and children here" said Itachi.
"So maybe that man who tried to kill Shikamaru wasn't after him but me?" I whispered.
"Maybe…It is too early to tell…but the real question is why she let you live" stated the stoic man.
"What do you mean? My god what have I done! I have brought my children to this place and then I find out an assassin was the one who sent us here?" I am now in full momma panic mode.
"Well, we won't know until we get more information" said Itachi.
"What am I going to do? How am I going to keep my kids safe?" I felt tears roll softly down my eyes.
"Well, I know for a fact that Shikamaru is on the way here and you will stay with him" said Itachi.
I stared at him…I am not really comprehending what is going on. My brain has gone into over load.
"And you will not leave his house…until the threat is neutralized" stated Itachi.
I blinked and really at this point my brain was processing only one thing 'PROTECT MY BABIES'. You have heard the thing about never get in-between a momma bear and her babies…well its true and let me tell you I am the momma bear.
"Naruto, I have to go now, I just got a text from Shikamaru and he is in the parking lot getting ready to come up. Now go wipe your tears and wash your face for I am sure that you don't want your kids to see you in this current state. And try not to worry…I know that is asking a lot but really you will be safe with Shikamaru" ordered Itachi as he turned to leave.
I nodded numbly and went to wash my face. While I was in the bathroom, I looked at my tear stained eyes and well, I just started to get mad. How could Sasuke leave me so unprepared for this? Why did I trust that woman so easily? And why am I so gullible? I can't be that way anymore because if I don't stop then my kids could get hurt.
I slammed my fist down on the sink. The good hand at least. I finished washing my face and went back into the main room then I sat down and waited for the kids.
Shikamaru's pov
Finally, we are here. If I had to hear one more 'Are we there, yet' I think my brain was going to explode. While I parked in the hospital parking lot I decided to text message Itachi and tell him we are here to pick Naruto up. I know that he planned to speak with him before the chaos known as kids interrupted them. I wonder what they talked about…maybe Naruto will feel like talking. For I know I will not get anything from Itachi. He never tells anything unless he feels that you have a need to know. Sometimes that guy is a royal pain in the ass.
"Hey, dad why are we not going up?" asked my ever inquisitive son.
"Well, I just texted Itachi and I am now waiting for him to tell me he is done talking to Naruto" I told my son, I mean why lie…my son is too smart for his own good and he would ask a million other questions just to get the answer he wants.
"Went momma" said Kohana as she rubbed her eyes. I guess the drive was a little long for such a small one.
"Want momma, that's what you say, want" said Hideaki correcting his tired little sister.
"I said went" said Kohana. I guess she is not too tired to start a fight with her brother.
I had better stop this before everyone gets involved. How troublesome…
"Enough, Hideaki don't pick on your sister she is tired and she is still little" I said as I turned to stare at them in the back seat.
"But…" Hideaki started.
"No, buts young man" I interrupted.
Hideaki sat back and pouted. It was cute… I have to admit but I am not in the mood for it today. I proceeded to tell the kids that I just got the text that said we could go up and get Naruto. The chorus of cheers was sort of funny. Almost like I had given the kids a reprieve on torture, the little brats…again I have to say how troublesome. You know it is going to be a long day when you say the word 'troublesome' so damn much. It could become my mantra. I mean I do say that a lot but damn…I never have said it so many times.
The boys scramble out of the car and then they wait patiently for Kohana. It is rough when you are the youngest. As soon as she was out, she walked up to me and put her arms up.
"Carry…Shika…peasss" said Kohana as she batted her dark eyes at me.
So guess what I did…yep you guessed it…I mean who can resist such cuteness. I myself found that I was powerless to resist. It was like she used some type of mind control on me and the only thing I could do was comply.
So as soon as I picked her up, I proceeded to herd the boys toward Naruto's room.
TBC
A/N: Wow, this chapter got done a lot faster than I thought. So I hope that you all enjoy. And I want to take the time to thank –siarafaerie-101-miss for her very nice review. And thank you for the people who put this story on story alert and favorite story. Again I apologize for the missed grammar and spelling mistakes.
